🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-Headed Relief Ships Declared Unaccounted For subsequent to Departing Mexican Waters. Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth departed Quintana Roo on 20 March. A comprehensive search and rescue mission is actively ongoing in the Caribbean Sea for two lost boats loaded with humanitarian supplies journeying from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Maritime Search Efforts Initiated Mexico has deployed navy personnel and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of 9 sailors, per a navy statement. The boats had been expected to reach Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Relief to the Island Cuba has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with repeated nationwide blackouts. "Both captains and crews are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are outfitted with suitable navigational gear and emergency beacons," a representative involved in the effort stated. The nine individuals on board are from the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexico said it has opened communications with rescue coordination centers from those nations along with their consular staff. "The group is working closely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to reach Havana safely," the official further stated. Earlier Aid Shipment Previously that week, the Cuban government widely celebrated and officially received another boat that had transported 14 tonnes of donated goods to the nation. That boat, dubbed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which Castro returned to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles and food. Broader International Context Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, a period which saw a energy blockade on the country was initiated. The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" shortages of supplies, with over fifty thousand surgical procedures cancelled in Cuba amid electricity supply constraints. Diplomatic tensions have been ramped up over the past months, with remarks from several representatives highlighting the complicated nature of bilateral relations. Responding to recent comments, a senior Cuban official stated firmly that "the socialist system of Cuba is not up for negotiation." Accounts suggest that preliminary steps of talks had begun, although their present status remains unclear. The naval forces stated it was dedicated to using every available asset at its reach to discover the vessels and secure the safety of the people on board. To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the government in Havana.
Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth departed Quintana Roo on 20 March. A comprehensive search and rescue mission is actively ongoing in the Caribbean Sea for two lost boats loaded with humanitarian supplies journeying from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Maritime Search Efforts Initiated Mexico has deployed navy personnel and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of 9 sailors, per a navy statement. The boats had been expected to reach Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Relief to the Island Cuba has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with repeated nationwide blackouts. "Both captains and crews are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are outfitted with suitable navigational gear and emergency beacons," a representative involved in the effort stated. The nine individuals on board are from the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexico said it has opened communications with rescue coordination centers from those nations along with their consular staff. "The group is working closely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to reach Havana safely," the official further stated. Earlier Aid Shipment Previously that week, the Cuban government widely celebrated and officially received another boat that had transported 14 tonnes of donated goods to the nation. That boat, dubbed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which Castro returned to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles and food. Broader International Context Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, a period which saw a energy blockade on the country was initiated. The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" shortages of supplies, with over fifty thousand surgical procedures cancelled in Cuba amid electricity supply constraints. Diplomatic tensions have been ramped up over the past months, with remarks from several representatives highlighting the complicated nature of bilateral relations. Responding to recent comments, a senior Cuban official stated firmly that "the socialist system of Cuba is not up for negotiation." Accounts suggest that preliminary steps of talks had begun, although their present status remains unclear. The naval forces stated it was dedicated to using every available asset at its reach to discover the vessels and secure the safety of the people on board. To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the government in Havana.